Improvement in car-couplings



G. E. LACY.

CAR-COUPLING. No. 170,092, Patented Nov.16,1.875.

' WIT-NESSES I v IYNVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS N. PETERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

' IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,092, dated November 16, 1875; application filed April 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LACY, of Suspension Bridge, in the county of Niagara and State of= New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Oar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part-of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a longitudinal vertical section of my car-coupling, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

This invention has relation to improvements in automatic car-couplings and the nature of the invention consists in combining, with a vertically-vibrating coupling-dog, applied upon a bolt passing transversely through the draw-bar, and adapted to be thrust up into a chamber in the upper part of the same by the contact of a link in the draw-bar of a car approaching to be coupled, an endwisemovable uncoupling-lever, keyed or otherwise suitably secured upon the end of the said bolt, whereby a simple and effective means is provided for operating the dog, for the purpose of efl'ecting an uncoupling, and for preventing a coupling when not desired, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the annexed drawings, A designates a rectangular draw-bar presenting the usual well-known form and appearance, and provided with a narrow rectangular chamber, a, and a flaring mouth, A. This draw-bar is also provided with a rectangular recess, 12, in its upper part, adapted to receive a vertically-vibrating coupling-arm, B, which is provided with a rectangular opening in one end,

by means of which it is applied upon a correspondingly-shaped part, c, of a suitable bolt, 0, passing transversely through the upper part of the draw-bar from side to side thereof.

When arm B is struck by the link in the draw-bar of a car approaching to be coupled,

- it will be caused to vibrate backward and upward into recess 12, allowing the link to enter into chamber a, passing into which the link Will relieve the coupling-arm of restraint, and will allow it to fall through the former with its lower end engaged in the front end of a slot, 0, cut in the floor of the-draw-head, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby effecting a coupling.

D represents an uncoupling-arm, having a slot, f, in one end, and a hook, 9, upon the other, which is applied upon the reduced end 1' of bolt G, and is there secured by a suitable nut, j, which is screwed upon the end of v the said bolt against a shoulder, ii, thereof, but without clamping lever D against the side of the draw-bar.

By this means this lever is allowed to.have endwise movement on bolt 0 to the extent of the length of slot f, but is not allowed to have vibratory motion with relation thereto; hence, when it is thrust upward from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, it will cause coupling-arm B to be vibrated upward into recess b, out of the slot of link E, and by separating the cars an uncoupling will be effected.

.When the operator releases lever D coupling-arm B will automatically gravitate downward into'the position shown in Fig. 1, ready set for a subsequent coupling.

If it be desired at any time to bring two or more cars together without coupling them, throw lever D up into the position shown in Fig. 2, then draw the same, by means of a handle, l, away from bolt, and engage its hooked end over a pin, 1), rigidly secured to the side of the draw-bar. movement the coupling-arm will be relieved of the restraint of pin 1), and will gravitate, as above described, into position ready set for coupling.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the endwise-movable and vertically-vibrating lever D, in combina tion with the bolt G and coupling-arm B,substantiull y as specified.

2. The lever D, having hook g and slot f,

in combination with a rest or pin, 1), and a vertically vibrating and gravitating couplingarm, B, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the. presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE EDGAR LACY.

Witnesses H. G. LACY, OHAs. H. CUTTING.

By reversing this 

